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GARRY MONK will be unveiled as Birmingham’s new boss just ten weeks after he left Middlesbrough, who just happen to be their opponents at St Andrew’s.

The 38-year-old must arrest a run of five straight defeats that cost Steve Cotterill his job after five months.

Also shown the door were coaches Paul Groves, Paul Williams and Kevin Hitchcock, director of football Jeff Vetere, head of sports science and medical David Álvarez, and strength and conditioning coach Albert Altarriba-Bartés.

Only a victory was good enough to buy Cotterill time but luck was very much against them at Forest.

“They knew their manager was under pressure – they are not stupid – and they were fantastically committed for me,” said Cotterill of his players.

“Sometimes we just haven’t been good enough and there have been times when they have played scared, and when a team is nervous it looks like they aren’t trying.”

GETTY

Steve Cotterill was only in charge for five months

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Aitor Karanka’s Forest have recorded back-to-back wins taking them to the heady heights of 15th and they are clearly enjoying the benefits of six deadline day additions in January.

But Karanka has already warned his players they are playing for their shirts next season.

“The players have the opportunity to show me who wants to stay here, who wants to be part of this project,” he said.

Young midfielder Matty Cash now looks a million dollars after recovering from injury.

Karanka said: “I’ve told him that football is about goals and if he wants to earn money with his ability then he needs to score goals.

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